Alicia Bervine

The employee who thrives on independence may struggle with delegation. The expert who can solve every problem personally may become frustrated when coaching others through mistakes. The worker praised for speed and precision may suddenly find themselves in a role where emotional intelligence, communication, and patience matter more than technical ability. Being exceptional at doing the work is not the same as being exceptional at leading people.

In many organizations, approval seeking disguises itself as collaboration or professionalism. We soften feedback to avoid tension. We take on extra work to avoid disappointing others. We stay silent in meetings to avoid being seen as difficult. But Adlerian psychology argues that this constant need for recognition gives away our autonomy. When your primary goal is to be liked, your decisions stop being value-driven and start being fear-driven.

I found one of the clearest leadership models not in a business book but in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Hear me out!